Hey there, pals! From now until March 31st, I’ll be donating 50% of profits from my online shop’s sales to the Lung Cancer Research Department of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in Toronto, Ontario.

This March marks five years since I lost my dad to lung cancer, and since his death I’ve been determined to both give back to the Princess Margaret team and contribute to advancing lung cancer treatment. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, lung cancer is “the leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women in Canada” yet it remains severely underfunded, due partly to its low survival rates and to the stigma that continues to surround addiction. By donating to the PMCF, it’s my hope that lung cancer patients and their families can one day receive a better prognosis.

The entire PMH team - the doctors, nurses, reception staff, security guards - showed us incredible kindness throughout my dad’s treatment. They brought in extra chairs so our massive family could be with him in his last days, they made him comfortable in every appointment, and some of the world’s top-tier oncologists took time to make sure we were doing okay. Princess Margaret is a beacon of hope in some of the darkest moments for a lot of families, and donating to the PMCF seems like the best way to honour Mike Babad’s legacy. That, and snacking on a bag of Wavy Lays.

There are a ton of other great ways to support families affected by cancer, too. Whether it’s donating financially, giving blood, or lighting a candle in someone’s memory, a little can go a long way— and I hope that together we can make someone’s future look a little brighter.

If you’re interested in learning more about the PMCF, you can do that here, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch! In the meantime, I’ll be listening to Born to Run and remembering my dad for the goof he was. He loved loudly and he hugged tightly, and I miss him very much.